Gas jet cleaning of coke oven doors and jambs



July 8, 1969 H. D. TAYLOR 3,454,426

GAS JET CLEANING OF COKE OVEN DOORS AND JAMBS Filed March 5, 1966CLEANED suRFAc;

CARBONACEOUS TRVELING L DEPOS'T MANIFOLDS HANDLE FLEXlBLE HOSE GAS GENERATING l HEADS ,j

I NVENTOR HOWARD D. TAYLOR FLEXIBLE HOSE Y. AGENT ,A

United States Patent O 3,454,426 GAS JET CLEANING OF COKE OVEN DOORS ANDJAMBS Howard D. Taylor, Morristown, NJ., assignor to Allied ChemicalCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 3,1966, Ser. No. 531,610 Int. Cl. B08b 5/02; C23g 5/00 U.S. Cl. 134-20 5Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to the cleaningof self-sealing coke oven door and door jambs of coke oven batteries;more particularly, this invention relates to a new method of andapparatus for cleaning the sealing surfaces of coke oven doors and doorjambs.

Self-sealing doors for coke ovens have a sealing strip extendingtherearound which presents ya knife edge to the machined face of thedoor jamb for sealing therewith. It is well known that, in order to beeffective, the seal made between a self-sealing coke oven door and itsjamb must be gas tight and therefore depends upon the sealing surfacestherebetween being initially clean and that, because of the formation ofdeposits of a pitchy, carbonaceous nature during the coking operation,it is necessary to periodically clean these surfaces.

This cleaning has in the past been performed manually by scraping andchipping the deposits from the sealing surfaces. The cleaning performedin this manner is tedious and arduous work which is not efficientlyperformed because of the prevailing heat conditions in the vicinity ofthe cock oven door jambs. Further, this method results in uneconomicallylong shut-down of the coke oven batteries and additionally the equipmentused in scraping and chipping often mars the sealing surfaces.

Various proposals have been made in the past for mechanically effectingthe cleaning of the sealing surfaces of coke oven doors and door jambs,such as, the use of mechanical Scrapers, rotary steel bristle brushesand burrs. 'Ihese methods have not proved satisfactory due to wearcharacteristics on the sealing surfaces and their inability to meetself-cleaning requirements. Other methods proposed for cleaning theself-sealing surfaces of coke oven doors and door jambs have includedattempts to burn the deposits off, blow them of with steam andcontracting and blowing off the deposits with pressurized air. Thesemethods have proven to be not only cumbersome but also frequentlyoccasion damage to the adjacent brickwork of the oven walls.

It is therefore an object of the 4present invention to provide a novelmethod for cleaning the sealing surfaces of self-cleaning coke ovendoors and door jambs. Another object of this invention is to provide anovel cleaning apparatus for cleaning the sealing surfaces ofself-sealing coke doors and door jambs. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the sealingsurfaces of self-sealing coke oven doors and door jambs in combinationwith a door handling machine which 3,454,426 Patented July 8, 1969 ICCcombination provides for automatic removal of the coke oven door, thecleaning of the sealing surfaces thereof and of the door jamb, and thereplacement of the door to seal the end f the coking chamber from whichit was removed after pushing of the coke charge in such chamber andbefore charging of the coking chamber commences.

I have found that lby means of a highly concentrated, controllableenergy source, tarry carbonaceous deposits formed on the sealingsurfaces of self-sealing coke oven doors and door jambs during thecoking operation are quickly and efficiently removed both hot and colddoors and door jambs. Briefly, the method of the present inventioncomprises directing a high velocity, high temperature, shaped jet of gas(primarily products of combustion) at the coke oven doors sealing edgeand the adjacent door ja'rnbs machined receiving surfaces. The jet ofgas iS caused to move vertically and/ or horizontally by manual ormechanical means until all the undesirable tarry, carbonaceous depositsformed during the coking operation have been removed. Deposits ofvarying thickness can be removed by the method of the present inventionat the rate of approximately four feet per minute. However, the rate ofcleaning will of course vary depending upon the mass and velocity of thegas jet employed as well as the thickness of the deposit to be removed.A further advantage of the present invention is that due to the veryshort period of time during which the metal sealing surface itself maybe exposed to hot gases, no detrimental effects occur.

The basic process steps of the present invention comprise:

(A) Generating a high temperature, high Velocity gas jet having atemperature ranging from 2,500 F. to 3,500 F., preferably 3,000" F. anda velocity of 1000 ft./sec. to 3,000 ft./sec., preferably 2,500 ft./sec.

(B) Shaping the gas into a thin rectangular shape, similar to a thinchisel blade with variations dependent upon the contour of the surfaceto be cleaned.

(C) Moving the shaped gas jet across the surface to be cleaned at therate approximately 4 ft./ min., which rate is nominal and may be varieddependent upon mass and velocity of the gas jet. The distance from thegas jet ejector to the surface to 'be cleaned is nominally from l to 2inches minimum contact with a maximum contact being dependent upon themass and velocity of the gas jet. Desirably, the gas ejected is at a 45angle to the surface to be cleaned.

The shaped gas jet employed in the present invention is the combustionproduct of a gas, such a low pressure colte oven gas and air (air/ gasratio ranging from 9.0/1 to 9.5/1, preferably 9.3/1) prepared by burningthe premixed gas and air inside a commercially available burner of thesuperheat type, such as shown in FIGURE l of the drawings capable ofproducing a superheated blast at a velocity up to 3,000 ft./sec. attemperatures up to 3,500 F. Optionally, the high velocity, hightemperature gas may :be produced at a location remote from the coke ovenbatteries and subsequently piped to the cleaning location for eventualuse as described above.

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a superheat burner of the typewhich may be employed in the present invention in which: 1 is aclose-tolerance ceramic structure containing a port pattern from whichpremixed gas and air burns inside the burner. The combustion proceedsalong and in contact with, the surface of preformed insulating lining 2of refractory material capable of withstanding more than 3,500 F. Thislining is closed in at the nose to form a nozzle or blast opening 3 ofappropriate shape. The nozzle or blast opening is preferably a slot 1"wide x Ma thick whereby the superheated blast or tongue 4 issuing fromthe nozzle is desirably chisel shaped. However, depending on the mass ofthe surface to be cleaned and the temperature and velocity of the jet,other slots having widths up to about 4" or different shapes may beemployed. The pipe or hose connection S is a standard pipe thread witheither male (as shown) or female being employed. 'Ihe shell 6 is of amaterial capable of durably and compactly encasing the refractorychamber.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section through a conventional self-sealingcoke oven door, such as shown for example in U.S. Patent 2,442,348granted June l, 1948, wherein: 31 is a refractory plug suitably seatedin a metal frame 32 and having a flexible sealing plate 33 suitablysecured to the frame 32. The sealing edges 28 (and the carbonaceousmaterial to be removed 23), desirably in the form of knife edges, arepositioned about the periphery of sealing plate 32. Spaced adjustablebolts 34 are disposed about the periphery of sealing plate 33 to adjustthe pressure of sealing edges 28y on the seating surface 27. Thebuckstays 22 are disposed at the opposite sides of the battery adjacentthe armor at the opposite ends of the heating wall flanking the cokingchamber 25.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic elevation of a self-sealing coke oven door asseen from its inner side showing sealing edge 4 (the surface to becleaned).

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the novel cleaning apparatuspositioned labout the coke oven door of FIGURE 3 for mechanicaloperation of the cleaning apparatus.

As will be understood, the superheat burner illustrated in FIGURE 1 ismerely a typical example of one of the many forms of such burnerscommercially available.

Likewise, the door constructions illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and 3 aretypical examples of the self-sealing coke oven doors having a sealingedge which may advantageously be cleaned by the use of the instantimproved cleaning method and apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is an illustration of the manual operation of the novelcleaning method of the present invention. A superheat burner, of thetype such as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, is attached to a handle,such as a standard pipe handle, which is held in the hands of anoperator, gaseous mixture in the appropriate gas/air ratio is fed to theburner through a exible hose located at the lower end of the handle. Therate of flow of the gaseous mixture to the burner may be regulated byvalve means located on the handle. The burners are fired and the shapedjet of high temperature, high velocity gas thus produced is directed atthe carbonaceous deposits adhering to the sealing edge of the coke ovendoor. Desirably the superheat burner employed produces a thinrectangular shaped jet of gas which is directed at the surface to becleaned at an angle of about 45 whereby a chisel shaped jet striking thesurface is effected. The thus shaped gas jet is moved along the sealingedge at the rate of approximately 4 ft./sec. while the distance from theburner to the work surface is maintained at from about l to 2 inches.The direction of movement of the cleaning apparatus over the saidsealing edge is in such manner that the cleaning action is alwaysexercised in a direction not opposed to that in which gravity acts onthe deposits being removed from the sealing surfaces by the shaped gasjet.

Even with a door as high as 15 feet, a user of normal height standing onthe bench portion of a coke oven structure a foot below the coke ovenfloor level, can clean the top portion of the sealing edge of a doorwith cumbersome when used in cleaning the bottom and vera handle elementwhich is not so long as to be unduly tical portions of the sealing edge.

A further particularly important feature of the cleaning apparatus ofthe present invention is its capacity for properly cleaning the cornerportions of the sealing edge at which the horizontal and verticalportions of the sealing edge merge into one another and are generallyrounded as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. Further, the ease withwhich the horizontally disposed portion of the sealing edge may becleaned is especially important, since the bottom portion of the sealingedge is the portion most in need of proper and regular cleaning.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is providedapparatus for mechanically cleaning the sealing surfaces of self-sealingcoke oven doors and door frames. This aspect of the present inventionmay be embodied in coke oven door handling machines operative on thecoke or pusher side of the battery, such as the machines shown in U.S.Patents 2,391,214 granted Dec. 18, 1945 and 2,588,060 granted Mar. 4,1952. Such machines involve a carriage comprising flanged wheels mountedfor rotation on axles and arranged to travel on rails positioned alongthe opposite sides of the battery at the necessary height for the doorhandling machine hooks to engage the doors of the coking chambers. Thewheels are driven from an electric motor to propel the machine along thelength of the battery to move it from one chamber to another asnecessary in the operation of the battery to remove the doors on theopposite sides of the chamber before pushing coke from each chamber whenthe coking of the charge therein has reached the end of the coking cycleand to replace the doors before charging an empty chamber. The doorhandling apparatus involves a door head frame mounted for turningmovement through a arc on pivot pins suitably journaled in supportingmembers secured to the carriage. The door head frame carries pivotedhooks and assow ciated bearing members adapted to engage the latchmechanism of the door and effect compression of the door springs topermit actuation of the latch mechanism to release the door. The door isthen supported by the door head frame which through linkage mechanismswings the door in an upward and outward direction away from the dooropening. The door is thus moved so that it is positioned clear of theside of the coke oven battery including the buckstays and othersupporting structure. The door head frame is then actuated to rotate itthrough a 90 arc.

When replacing the door, the movement is just the opposite of thathereinabove described for removing the door; that is to say, the doorafter having been cleaned by the door cleaner is first swung through a90 arc by the pivotal movement of the door head frame to return the doorto a position in front of the coking chamber. The door is thereaftermoved to seat the sealing edges on the sealing surfaces of the doorjamb.

A plurality of the gas jet cleaning means of the present invention maybe mounted on the main carriage of the door handling machine in anysuitable manner whereby such door handling means and said gas jetcleaning means being so constructed and arranged that a door removedfrom an oven by said handling means may be brought into sealing-surfacecleaning relationship with said gas jet cleaning means for cleaningthereby.

It will be appreciated that FIGURE 5 is merely given to show therelationship of the sealing edge and cleaning means in sealing-surfacecleaning relationship. Further, it will be appreciated that the upperand lower horizontally extending sealing surfaces of the door arecleaned solely by the upper and lower horizontally placed gas jetsrespectively likewise the vertical sealing surfaces are cleaned solelyby the gas jets placed for vertical movement. The gas jets are allconnected to a suitable fuel supply by means of flexible hose and tosuitable guiding and power means whereby the desired movement is0btained.

Thus it is apparent that my apparatus is readily adaptable for automaticoperation by the addition of an appropriate arrangement of guiding meansand power means hence, the cleaning operation may be performed eithermanually or mechanically without interfering with the pushing scheduleor damage to the metal sealing surfaces or adjacent brickwork as aresult of long exposure to the hot gases.

I claim:

1. A method for removing tarry, carbonaceous deposits adhering to thesealing surfaces of coke oven doors and their cooperating door jambslwhich comprises: generating a high velocity, high temperature gas jethaving a velocity of from about 1000 feet/second to about 3000 feet/second and a temperature of about 2500 F. to about 3500 F., shaping thejet into a relatively thin, at elongated form and applying the thusgenerated high velocity, high temperature gas jet to the aforesaidsurfaces to be cleaned at an angle thereby removing said tarry,carbonaceous deposits from said sealing surfaces.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said high velocity, hightemperature gas jet has a velocity of about 2300 to about 2800 feet/second and a temperature of about 2800 F. to about 3200 F.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said gas jet is in the form of a thinrectangular shape having a forward edge directed at the surface to becleaned at an angle of about 30 to 60 C.

4. The method as described in claim 3 wherein said shaped gas jet isformed in a burner having a blast opening 6 of from about 14; inch to1/2 inch thick and from about l to about 4 inches wide.

5. A method for removing deposits from the surfaces of coke oven doorsand door jambs which comprises:

(a) directing a plurality of inter-connected gas jets at an angleagainst the surface to be cleaned,

(b) simultaneously moving said plurality of jets with respect to saidsurface,

(c) each of said jets comprising a high velocity, high temperature gasjet having a velocity of from about 1000 feet/second to about 3000feet/second, a temperature of from about 2500 F. to about 3500 F., and arelatively thin, flat elongated shape,

(d) thereby removing said deposits from said surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,803 3/1933 Davis. 2,283,282S/1942 Otto. 2,841,213 7/1958 De Piolenc 431-158 3,224,486 12/1965Geller 431-158 XR 3,363,663 1/1968 Porter 431-158 XR MORRIS O. WOLK,Primary Examiner.

D. G. MILLMAN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

